Book Arts

(SWE nedan) This is a language café for anyone who wants to practice their Swedish through discussion in a laid-back environment. Swedish Language Café takes place every Tuesday at Luckan, and the programme is adapted according to the participants’ needs and wishes. Swedish Language Café is organised in collaboration with Kvinnliga Akademiker i Helsingfors. The Swedish Language Café meets at Luckan, Georgsgatan 27 / Yrjönkatu 27 every Tuesday at 17:30-19:00. There is no need to sign up in advance. For more information: integration@luckan.fi SWE Swedish Language Café är ett språkkafé som är öppet för alla som vill öva svenska via diskussioner i en avslappnad miljö. Språkkaféet hålls varje tisdag och programmet anpassas enligt deltagarnas behov och önskemål. Språkkafét ordnas i samarbete med Kvinnliga Akademiker i Helsingfors. Språkkafét hålls på Luckan, Georgsgatan 27 klockan 17:30-19:00. Förhandsanmälan krävs ej. För mera information kontakta integration@luckan.fi

Warm welcome to join our weekly improv club for amateurs! No previous experience in theatre or improvisation is required – the most important thing is to have fun and try something new. **IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, please make sure to reserve yours! The training sessions teach and apply basic improv techniques, skills and principles. In addition to short exercises, those who are interested can work towards for a small performance for a small audience in late spring – however, participation is also meaningful without the desire to perform. *Commitment*: The first four times you can come and get to know the other participants and the techniques without any commitment. From week 16 (14th of April) onwards, the group will close in hopes that the participants can work more focused together and develop onto what we have learned. Participants will also get the opportunity to take turns directing the rest of the group or other smaller responsibilities as they gain confidence. WHEN & WHERE: Tuesdays at 18-20, starting 17th of March Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahten Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 1 00180 Helsinki About the facilitator: Iska Knuuttila has been part of the Jyväskylä-based Impropaatti group in 2020–2024, where he led some of the training and performed in two performance seasons. The repertoire included both short techniques and long plays. Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! IG: instagram.com/miitti1 Facebook: facebook.com/miitti1 Web: lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/

Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :) The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹 Tervetuloa! When? ⏰ Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki The Good Coffee Company A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

Hello sporty population! Let's gather around and play some football together with people from around the world! IMPORTANT! Spots are limited, so make sure you reserver yours! If you are not registered on the list, you will be kindly asked to leave; this is to ensure fair access for everyone! We will play indoors at Playbox in Vantaa on Tuesday evenings from 18.00-19.00 Age limit: 16+ You can come directly inside the hall or meet us at the entrance a bit before 18.00. MIITTI welcomes everyone to its events regardless of background or gender. You don't have to have any skills at all to come and play with us, and if you do, please come and coach us! WHERE: Playbox Vetokuja 1 01610 Vantaa Warm welcome! If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Join us for an empowering workshop hosted by Helsinki Toastmasters, focusing on mastering confidence and communication skills. Whether you are a seasoned public speaker or just starting your journey, this event is tailored for individuals looking to boost their self-empowerment and enhance their leadership skills. Our experienced mentors will share valuable insights on how to speak with conviction, project confidence, and become a compelling communicator. Connect with like-minded individuals, network with professionals, and engage in thought-provoking discussions aimed at personal development and positive thinking. Elevate your public speaking game, gain inspiration, and set yourself on the path to success. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and unleash your full potential. Helsinki Toastmasters welcomes you to this interactive event that promises to be both educational and fun. The meeting is in English language, meet and greet starts at 17:30, meeting starts at 17:45 pm sharp. Warmly welcome as a guest.

Welcome to join our Sahaja Yoga meditation meetings in English! The meetings are free of charge and you can just show up. The group consists of people of different ages and nationalities who have been meditating different periods of time. Newcomers are welcome at any time. We normally sit on chairs or on pillows on the floor, so there is no need to bring a mat and you can wear normal clothes. Meditation means mental silence or thoughtless awareness. You are present here and now, but your mind is not bombarded by thoughts from the past or the future. In this state, you feel peace and joy, which are the essential elements of the present moment. With regular practice of meditation, it is possible to establish this state within us. The group is lead by volunteers who are experienced and can offer guidance to get you started. We give a short introduction to the meditation and after that we do meditation exercises. We also give tips on how to meditate at home. After the meditation class, we have a cup of tea and there is time for questions. Welcome! We hope to see you in our meditation meetings! This video helps you to find the Kamppi Sahaja Yoga center: https://vimeo.com/199566137 More information about Sahaja Yoga meditation: www.discoversahajayoga.org (in English) www.jooga.org (in Finnish) www.sahajayoga.ru (in Russian) www.sahajayoga.es (in Spanish) Guided online meditations to support your meditation practice at home: www.wemeditate.com

Here's an opportunity to practice German over a good cup of coffee in a cozy Viennese coffee house 🍷☕️🍻🍾🎡 🇦🇹 The events are free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. You can also enjoy specialties from Vienna ☕️🇦🇹🥰 When? ⏰ Usually Tuesdays from 16:00 - 17:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese Café & Restaurant: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki Herzlich willkommen! Tässä mahdollisuus harjoitella saksaa hyvän kahvin äärellä viihtyisässä wienilaisessa kahvilassa 🍷☕️🍻🍾🎡 🇦🇹 Tapahtumat ovat ilmaisia ja mukana on aina saksaa äidinkielenään puhuva henkilö. Saat myös kokeilla erikoisuuksia Wienistä. ☕️🇦🇹🥰 Milloin? ⏰ Yleensä tiistaina klo 16.00-17.00 Missä? 📍 Viihtyisässä wieniläisessä kahvilassa ja ravintolassa: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki Herzlich willkommen! The Good Coffee Company Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki www.thegoodcoffee.co A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 PS: Please visit our Facebook Page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

**Welcome to Sketchy Collective!** A relaxed and social drawing group for anyone who enjoys sketching — or just wants to give it a try. \*\*\* We meet **every Sunday at 15:00** in **Oodi Library**. \*\*\* **HOW TO FIND US** We meet on the **top floor of Oodi Library**, on the stairs **opposite** the children’s area. It's a good idea to **keep your sketchbook visible** so others can easily recognize that you're there for the sketching meetup. And if you’re a regular participant, making it clear that you're part of the sketching group can be very helpful for newcomers! \*\*\* **HOW IT WORKS** At each meetup, attendees take turns being the model for a quick **10-minute sketch session**. One person poses, everyone else sketches, then we rotate. \*\*\* **WHAT TO BRING** Pencils and paper (or any sketching tools you like). No fees, no pressure. The only thing we ask is that everyone takes a turn posing for the group. You can sit however you feel comfortable — the 10 minutes go by quickly! Draw as much as you like, skip a round if you’re tired or just want to chat, and leave whenever it suits you. The event continues as long as there’s interest. \*\*\* **STAYING CONNECTED** Due to issues with spam and advertising, the group has decided that **only people who have attended at least one meetup will be accepted into the WhatsApp group**. To be added, please ask other participants at the meetup — a few members have permission to approve new people, and at least one of them will likely be present. \*\*\* **SOCIAL MEDIA** If you’d like to share your drawings from the meetup, you can send on WhatsApp group or use the Instagram collab function (instagram.com/sketchy.collective). We warmly encourage everyone to share their work and take part in building our international sketching gallery — together with artists from all the cities where Sketchy Collective meetups are organized.

East Helsinki should be an independent country. Where people stand for things. Empathy, compassion, gratitude and everything good and left. Where everyone would make a lot of sense, love and tell so many stories. This evening is about the story part. The stories of sandwiches, liberty, chai, fishing, relocation, resistance, and whatever. Come and listen to some of them with us, have a cup of tea or soup of the day. If you want to tell a story or perform then send us a request at saraab.helsinki@gmail.com We will also have some stories from the hat, so come-check the vibe and put your name in the hat if you feel like telling one. Red card to racists, queerphobes/islamophobes, climate change deniers. We also have a lifetime entry ban for Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu and Donald Trump. If you are going through a lot, we are on your side. Meri-Rastila for life, because east is a tribe, a vibe. Free entry – Refreshments available for purchase at the store nearby Doors open / Hangout: 19:00 Program: 20:00 – 22:00 Hangout 22:00 – 23:00 P.s. Straight white middle-aged people can also join saraab.helsinki@gmail.com

Språkcaféet är en öppen diskussionsgrupp för dig som är intresserad av att öva svenska. Välkommen till Oodi för att samtala på svenska, dricka te, lära känna nya människor och utveckla dina språkkunskaper. Tröskeln är låg alla är välkomna till språkcaféet. Vi träffas på andra våningen i grupprum 7. Språkcaféet ordnas i samarbete med Föreningen Luckan. NÄR? Varje onsdag från 28 januari till 1 juli 2026, kl. 17.30–19.00 VAR? Tölöviksgatan 4 / Helsingfors centrumbibliotek Oodi Grupprum 7, våning 2 HUR? Gratis, men antalet platser är begränsattill 20 personer – säkra din plats i tid. Läs mer här: [https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki:agilmfuur4](https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki%3Aagilmfuur4&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyOXJVem4wcG9zTFNnWkZhb3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7oA9f7wT-vg1TTAOolBX-DIa5v2kNy3WWYaRoGIQ61b0FwKnNRIpM8iS_SNA_aem_3IiwBU4uC18LCxtcZztCzQ) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- The Language Café is an open discussion group for people interested in practicing Swedish. Come to Ode to discuss in Swedish, drink tea, get to know new people and practice your language skills. We have a low threshold, everyone is welcome to the language café and we meet on the second floor in group room 7. The language café is organised in cooperation with Föreningen Luckan. WHEN? Every Wednesday starting 28th Jan - 1st July 2026 from 17.30-19.00 WHERE? Tölöviksgatan 4 / Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Group room 7, second floor HOW? Free, however, the space is limited to 20 people so make sure to grab a seat. Read more here: [https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki:agilmfuur4](https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki%3Aagilmfuur4&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyOXJVem4wcG9zTFNnWkZhb3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5tA7X3DwdnHkLD_aFYiMP70HkHr0Sb51r5vMwwTnCaNWoZQI38y7VBcXHTqQ_aem_ankM-3hEAv-lqwS8R76POA)

Motley ry, in collaboration with MIITTI, is happy to present our Spring-26 schedule of FREE, FUN and FRIENDLY creative community workshops for children and young people, including embroidery, tufting and 3D greeting cards, led by our lovely, kind and professional teachers! ***Check the individual dates for each activity in the registration form further down!*** WHERE: The workshops will take place on Wednesday evenings at: **Tallipääty, MIITTI office at Lapinlahden Lähde, Lapinlahdenpolku 8** This year we are able to provide a range of children and young people's creative activities free of charge (materials included too), thanks to a grant from a foundation Brita Maria Renlunds minne sr. While we are still working on our own website, more details of each workshop can be also found in: [https://www.instagram.com/motley_project/](https://www.instagram.com/motley_project/ "https://www.instagram.com/motley_project/") **Sign up now to book a space before they fill up!** Sign up through this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexw_M9lC4hUNJ2a0zx3qzhzI63Ob4eEnn0hseCnOGwis__7w/viewform …or by emailing us: [motleyproject2025@gmail.com](https://helsinki.inschool.fi/!04734529/messages/26761149#OnlyHTTPAndHTTPSAllowed "https://helsinki.inschool.fi/!04734529/messages/26761149#OnlyHTTPAndHTTPSAllowed") Join MIITTI's Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! IG: [instagram.com/miitti](https://instagram.com/miitti1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtRTGOrk9UHok74sN2rBKO0MbPmdDN1rkKT0itIGvT4XlR6Nf1IuggnH_RAU_aem_nDLv9Qv_6btmXIj1BMzD6w)1 Facebook: facebook[.com/miitti1](http://meetup.com/miitti1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiTNymBItpBzaNS4U5YckVkmX1lWvGTNmyrgrCjU0VyG5VbDkE0S2kc0vPRr_aem_7_pfV6MIaQSXAY1NFyFo3w) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvsDEGe0cfHYjb_stAotytR1P4VMnwu_n6rB015BsI18aHlGEvaFwN-N2xxS_aem_mNak8N9FjZKLR2oxot5L-g)

Discover the restorative power of nature on a guided forest walk on the island of Seurasaari. Through calm observation and gentle connection with the forest atmosphere, slow down, unwind, and sharpen your senses. **IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, please make sure to reserve yours! If you are not registered, you will be kindly asked to leave. Step out of everyday busyness and into a more present, embodied experience of nature. Practice selected ForestMind exercises and include optional moments of shared reflection in a safe, supportive space. These gentle exercises invite you to open your senses, cultivate a feeling of calm and refreshment, and practice being fully present in the moment. Some invitations focus on noticing and kindly accepting your own thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. The method, developed in Finland by Mrs. Sirpa Arvonen, combines researched nature-based health effects with simple mind-skill practices and is suitable for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or previous experience. Leave the forest feeling grounded, refreshed, and more connected to yourself and your surroundings. **Program details:** *WHEN:* Wednesday 8th of April, starting at 11.00 and ending around 14.00 *LOCATION:* Seurasaari Island – about 3,5 Km on designated forest trails (easy access, paths available). *MEETING POINT:* I will meet you just before the white bridge in Seurasaari, (you will see the bridge when you get off from the bus). *AGE:* over 18yo ***PLEASE NOTE***: the activity will take place with sun or rain. Participants bring comfortable shoes/clothing, weatherproof clothing, water bottle, and an open mind. No extra equipment required. *COSTS:* free. The participants pay own bus ticket to and from Seurasaari Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! IG: instagram.com/miitti1 Facebook: facebook.com/miitti1 Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjdO6QGKx3W-tfkeqWZwP-A2L4CJvi-dtPCJg0r5i0b7aZ26Xg9M70PgQrcF_aem_bilwGCnh6QkHC4t7bmF_8w)/

Doors open at 10:15. Northern Stars is the only advanced club in Finland. To become a member, you need to hold the title of Toastmasters competent communicator (CC), have performed at least 8 out of 10 speeches from your CC manual, or have completed Pathways level three. However, you are always most welcome as a guest at our meetings that usually take place the second Saturday of each month. It is certainly the best way for you to know if this club can support your aspirations: Please visit us! This will be a in person meeting: we'll meet at Oodi Library

Hello sporty population! Let's gather around and play some badminton together with people from around the world! IMPORTANT! Spots are limited, so make sure you reserver yours! If you are not registered on the list, you will be kindly asked to leave; this is to ensure fair access for everyone! **If you marked going and do not come, or you did not cancel your spot on time (1 day before), you will be suspended from participating for the next two sessions.** We will play in Talihalli Huopalahti from 11.00-12.30 Court numbers are 9, 10 and 11; you can come directly to the courts or meet us at the entrance a bit before 11.00. Please keep in mind that if you go directly to the courts, **do not enter them before our time starts!** MIITTI welcomes everyone to its events regardless of background or gender. You don't have to have any skills at all to come and play with us, and if you do, please come and coach us! Age limit: 16+ Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can rent (racket) from the hall for 4€ each. After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game. Warm welcome! For questions and more information, please contact Alaa 040 5656096 If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1) [Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)

This Month's Book: *On A Sunbeam* by Tillie Walden Join us for discussion at the Granville Public Library from 6 to 7pm. Follow us on Instagram: @granvillepridebookclub

* Second ever book club! April meet up. All are welcome. * The book will be Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (determined by votes from March Book Club. Let me know if you’d like a free digital copy of the book) * This event will be at the main library, meeting room 1B, the location will not be changed for this event due to the number of people attending, we will just add more chairs if needed! * Feel free to come whether or not you’ve started or finished the book ◡̈ * Small snacks will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Starting in June I will try to keep future book clubs at the Dublin Library. Now that I understand their reservation system, I will be on top of it with booking that location as soon as the date is released for the month. Thanks for your understanding with the varying locations in the meantime.

**Our April novel is: *The Hong Kong Widow* by Kristen Loesch** **This month’s novel blends gothic atmosphere with historical fiction and chilling horror, set against the haunting backdrop of China. The book is 368 pages in print and 10 hours and 42 minutes on audiobook.** In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation—to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges—she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house—even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .

AI is changing how art is made. But when does it stop being your work and start being the machine’s? This month we're going to be doing a panel with with digital image, music, and written word artists, talking about at what point, while using AI in the creation process, does the work become not the artist creation? We encourage audience participation during this event that will be moderated by Chris Slee. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

Let's bedazzle some books while we discuss our April pick: Bloodguard by Cecy Robson! Book description: One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise… Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie. Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose. He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity. All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day. Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom. But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap. Nor will his ultimate revenge… Event: Please bring your own book, journal, bookmarks, etc to bedazzle. If you have bedazzling supplies, please bring them as well. I will supply gems, glue, and picker tools, but if you have certain colors in mind, you may want to bring your own.

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**